Exodus 10:26 kjv
Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.
Exodus 10:26 nkjv
Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the LORD our God, and even we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there."
Exodus 10:26 niv
Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping the LORD our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the LORD."
Exodus 10:26 esv
Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there."
Exodus 10:26 nlt
All our livestock must go with us, too; not a hoof can be left behind. We must choose our sacrifices for the LORD our God from among these animals. And we won't know how we are to worship the LORD until we get there."
Exodus 10 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 8:25-27 | Pharaoh offers the first compromise: sacrifice in the land. | Pharaoh's initial compromise attempts. |
| Exod 10:8-11 | Pharaoh offers the second compromise: men only go. | Pharaoh's ongoing attempts to limit Israel's freedom. |
| Exod 12:38 | A mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. | The livestock did go, as Moses demanded. |
| Lev 1:2-3 | "...when any man of you brings an offering... you shall bring your offering of the livestock, of the herd or of the flock." | Future Mosaic Law specifies animal sacrifices. |
| Lev 3:1 | "If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering... of the herd or of the flock..." | Reinforces the use of specific livestock for offerings. |
| Num 7:1-88 | Details the dedication offerings, including livestock. | Fulfillment of the need for various offerings. |
| Deut 12:5-7 | "...seek the place which the Lord your God shall choose... and thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings..." | God designates how and where worship is to occur. |
| Deut 14:22-23 | Command to tithe livestock annually for worship. | Divine claim over a portion of their possessions. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the Lord with your substance and with the firstfruits of all your produce..." | Principle of offering one's best to God. |
| Isa 1:11-12 | "What is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" says the Lord... | Highlights God's desire for the heart, not just empty ritual. |
| Hos 6:6 | "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." | Emphasizes obedience and true knowledge of God. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?" | Obedience supersedes mere external ritual. |
| Psa 24:1 | "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." | All belongs to God; He determines its use. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... test me now in this..." | Emphasizes God's demand for complete obedience in giving. |
| Rom 12:1-2 | "I appeal to you therefore... to present your bodies as a living sacrifice... Do not be conformed to this world..." | New Covenant application: total devotion and non-conformity. |
| Phil 4:18 | "...a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." | Believers' gifts are spiritual sacrifices in NT. |
| Heb 9:11-14 | Christ's ultimate sacrifice through His own blood. | Christ fulfills and perfects animal sacrifices. |
| Heb 10:1-10 | The inadequacy of animal sacrifices compared to Christ's body. | Points to the ultimate fulfillment of sacrifice in Christ. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "...to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Believers as priests offering spiritual sacrifices. |
| Col 3:23-24 | "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men... you are serving the Lord Christ." | All actions can be a form of service to God. |
| Matt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters..." | Inability to serve both God and worldly demands fully. |
| Luke 14:33 | "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." | The principle of total commitment for discipleship. |
| Matt 22:37-38 | "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." | God requires total love and devotion. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-17 | "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers... Come out from among them and be separate..." | Avoid compromising God's commands with worldly ways. |
Exodus 10 verses
Exodus 10 26 Meaning
Exodus 10:26 encapsulates Moses' non-negotiable demand for total freedom for Israel, including their livestock, essential for their future worship of the Lord. Pharaoh wished to retain the animals as a form of leverage, maintaining a degree of control over the Israelites. Moses' resolute stand conveys that God's people cannot serve Him fully while remaining beholden to the world or its rulers in any significant way. It emphasizes that divine service requires complete dedication and access to all necessary resources, as specified by God Himself, not by human limitation or compromise. The verse also underscores divine sovereignty in determining the method and substance of worship.
Exodus 10 26 Context
Exodus chapter 10 recounts the eighth and ninth plagues against Egypt: locusts and darkness. This verse falls within the negotiation between Moses and Pharaoh regarding the departure of the Israelites. After the plague of darkness, Pharaoh offers his third compromise: the people (including women and children) may leave, but their flocks and herds must remain. Pharaoh's goal is to retain a lien or an assurance of Israel's return by keeping their valuable livestock, crucial for sustenance and their economic livelihood. Moses's response in verse 26 is an absolute refusal, demonstrating God's unwavering demand for total freedom and total access to what is needed for His worship. This direct confrontation further escalates the conflict, leading inevitably to the tenth and final plague against Egypt.
Exodus 10 26 Word analysis
- Our livestock: (miqneh, מִקְנֶה) - Refers to possessions, specifically purchased or acquired livestock, comprising both cattle and flocks. These animals were central to their economic life, source of food, and vital for the sacrificial system in Israelite worship. The ownership of the livestock symbolizes economic and religious autonomy from Pharaoh.
- also shall go with us: Emphasizes inclusion; no part of their means of worship or livelihood would be left behind. It signifies non-negotiable terms for departure.
- not a hoof: (pârasat, פַּרְסָה) - A specific and emphatic idiom signifying absolute totality. It literally means "not a single divided hoof," representing even the smallest part of the livestock. It denotes completeness and an unwavering stance.
- shall be left behind: (tiššāʾēr, תִּשָּׁאֵר) - From the verb "to leave, remain." The absolute refusal to leave anything suggests God's comprehensive demand.
- for we must take some of them: (wē kî miqemmēnāh niqach) - The reason is immediately given. They must take the animals because they are consecrated for the Lord's purpose. This isn't just about economic freedom but religious obligation.
- to serve the Lord our God: (la'avod Yahweh Eloheynu) - Hebrew `avod (עָבַד) means to serve, work, worship. This is the ultimate purpose. The animals are for religious worship and offerings directed specifically to Yahweh, the God of Israel. It directly challenges Pharaoh's claim over anything associated with worship.
- and we do not know: (velō-yāda‛nû) - This statement is profoundly strategic and theological. Moses, despite knowing some forms of sacrifice, acknowledges that the exact nature and quantity of sacrifices would be revealed later by God. It maintains the absolute divine prerogative over human instruction.
- with what we must serve the Lord: Refers to the specific type and quantity of offerings that God would require upon their arrival in the wilderness or at Mount Sinai.
- until we arrive there: God's plan and requirements are not yet fully disclosed. This places the ultimate decision on God, making it impossible for Pharaoh to counter with specific, limiting demands.
Exodus 10 26 Bonus section
This verse foreshadows the immense sacrifice and offering requirements detailed later in the Torah, especially in Leviticus. The insistence on taking all animals emphasizes that every aspect of the Israelites' lives, including their economic base and potential future offerings, was under Yahweh's domain, not Pharaoh's. The confrontation here highlights a broader theological point: God demands exclusive worship and full ownership of His people and their resources; no compromise is acceptable when it comes to serving Him fully. It is a powerful example of steadfast faith and uncompromising obedience to divine command in the face of worldly pressure.
Exodus 10 26 Commentary
Exodus 10:26 powerfully encapsulates the spiritual war between Yahweh and Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s offer to let the people go but keep their flocks and herds was a subtle but profound attempt to maintain control. Livestock was essential for Israel's economic survival and, critically, for their sacrificial system commanded by Yahweh. By demanding "not a hoof" be left behind, Moses, speaking for God, affirmed that God's people must be wholly free for worship. Their worship is not contingent upon the world’s permission or resources, nor can it be dictated or limited by it. This full demand, acknowledging the as-yet-unrevealed specific sacrifices ("we do not know with what we must serve..."), demonstrates unwavering trust in God’s future provisions and instructions. It means God dictates the terms of His worship, requiring a complete detachment from earthly bonds to serve Him entirely, providing a foundational principle that all resources belong to God and are to be available for His service.